First, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, National Public Radio, and teleSUR; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. Then, via Popular Resistance, a link to a report on a meeting of the Helsinki Commission this week, and via Consortium News, a link to an analysis of how the war in Ukraine may be leading some countries to realign themselves. — MCM
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Biden’s mission in Europe: Shore up alliance against Russia, by Zeke Miller and Darlene Superville | The Associated Press WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is out to sustain the global alliance punishing Russia for its invasion of Ukraine as he embarks on a five-day trip to Europe as the four-month-old war shows no sign of abating and its aftershocks to global food and energy supplies are deepening. Biden first joins a meeting of the Group of Seven leading economic powers in the Bavarian Alps of Germany and later travels to Madrid for a summit with leaders of the 30 NATO countries. The visit comes . . . READ MORE . . .
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Ukraine troops ‘almost left’ Sievierodonetsk as Russian missiles pound north, west, by Max Hunder and Tom Balmforth | Reuters * Capture of Sievierodonetsk would be big gain for Russia * Ukraine says Russia launches widespread shelling * Dozens of missiles hit Ukrainian military bases | KYIV — Ukrainian troops have “almost left” Sievierodonetsk after weeks of intense fighting against Russian forces, the mayor of the eastern city said today, signalling the biggest reversal for Ukraine since losing the port of Mariupol in May. As Europe’s biggest land conflict since World War Two . . . READ MORE . . .
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Biden meets with G7 to talk about Ukraine, inflation, food insecurity, climate change. Reported by Rob Schmitz | National Public Radio. President Biden is headed to Germany for a meeting of the G7 with leaders of the wealthiest countries. At the top of their agenda is the war in Ukraine, now in its fifth month. Click HERE to listen and, another day, read.
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Biden will visit Saudi Arabia to ask for an increase in oil production. Reported by Jackie Northam | NPR President Biden’s trip to Saudi Arabia next month represents a stark change in his attitude towards Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has been implicated in the killing of a journalist. Click HERE to listen and, another day, read.
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Putin Insists Russia Is Not Blocking Ukraine’s Ports. From teleSUR. Speaking at a BRICS+ video conference on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin replied to German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock’s allegations that Russia is blocking Ukrainian grain shipments, taking the “the whole world hostage.” Criticizing the West’s “cynical attitude,” he said the food supply of developing nations has been the hardest hit by rising prices and added that the West’s rising inflation is “the result of its own irresponsible macroeconomic policies.” Putin said Moscow is ready to allow free passage to international waters for ships carrying grain. He said Russia has come to an “understanding” about it with the UN Secretariat. In this regard . . . READ MORE . . .
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Lavrov: U.S. and UK Do Not Allow Ukraine to Resume Peace Talks. From teleSUR. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday that while European countries urge Kiev to resume peace dialogues with Moscow, “the Anglo-Saxons” — referring to the United States and the United Kingdom — prevent it from doing so. So, he expressed skepticism about a possible return of Ukraine to peace negotiations. “Currently,” he said during an interview, “I do not see any possibility for Ukraine to propose [negotiations], we are not going to propose anything. We proposed everything a long time ago. The ball is on their court. I don’t see . . . READ MORE . . .
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U.S. Government Plots to Break Up Russia in Name of ‘Decolonization,’ by Ben Norton | Multipolarista / Educate! A U.S. government body called the Helsinki Commission held a Congressional briefing Thursday on ways to break up Russia as a country in the name of supposed “decolonization.” Participants urged the United States to give more support to separatist movements inside Russia and in the diaspora. They proposed the independence of numerous republics in the Russian Federation, including Chechnya, Tatarstan, and Dagestan, as well as historic areas . . . READ MORE . . .
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Staying Out of Troubled Waters, by Humberto Márquez | Inter Press Service / Consortium News CARACAS — Numerous countries of the developing South are distancing themselves from the contenders in the war in Ukraine, using the debate on the conflict to underscore their independence and pave the way for a kind of new de facto non-alignment with regard to the main axes of world power. Meetings and votes on the conflict at the United Nations and in other forums, the search for support or neutrality and negotiations to cushion the impact of the economic crisis accentuated by the war are . . . READ MORE . . .